On the bubble
Performances tonight could determine futures
Some Dolphins’ jobs are on the line tonight.
On Saturday more than 1,000 NFL players will have their dreams deferred, if not completely derailed.
The final preseason game is important to the players on the back-end of an NFL team’s training camp roster because come Saturday at 4 p.m. teams will have to trim their rosters down from 90 to 53 players.
Some of the waived players will be claimed by new teams, and each team will add 10 players to their practice squad. But most of these former college standouts will be forced to find new careers.
Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s breakdown of 10 players on the bubble to make the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man regular-season roster heading into tonight’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons:
Offensive guard Isaac Asiata The Dolphins’ 2017 fifth-round pick had a respectable camp, and his performance in the first two preseason games was decent. But Asiata’s play against the Ravens was bad, and raises concern if he’ll ever become a decent pass blocker. With Ted Larsen nursing an injury the Dolphins are desperate for a player who can handle all three spots on the interior of the offensive line. Asiata’s play against the Falcons needs to convince offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn that he’s worth a continued investment because Miami might find better options on the waiver wire.
Cornerback Tony Lippett Lippett was expected to compete with Cordrea Tankersley for the starting cornerback spot opposite Xavien Howard in his return from the Achilles tendon
injury that sidelined him for all of 2017. But his training camp practices, and performance in last week’s loss to the Ravens has been so inconsistent he’s fallen down the depth chart, and is in danger of not making the final cut. An ankle injury has slowed the 2015 fifth-round pick down, but it doesn’t seem like coach Adam Gase is ready to give up on Lippett, who led the team with four interceptions in 2016.
Tight end A.J. Derby
Derby began training camp as the starting tight end but his foot injury opened the door for Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins’ 2018 second-round pick, to leapfrog him on the depth chart. Derby, who has caught one pass for 8 yards in the preseason, needs a strong performance as a blocker and pass catcher Thursday, and his fate depends on whether or not Miami decides to keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster because MarQueis Gray should be safe, and Miami’s not cutting Gesicki and Durham Smythe, the team’s 2018 fourth-round pick. Linebacker Mike Hull
Hull’s scrappy nature not only earned him the nickname “Scrap,” but it’s kept the undrafted player around the past three seasons. He sprained the MCL in his left knee during the first preseason game, and will likely be sidelined at least another month while he rehabs. Even though depth is an issue at linebacker, the Dolphins would probably be better off giving Hull an injury settlement and revisit re-signing him later in the season if he’s needed. Miami could also place him on injured reserve, but that would require he make the team’s initial 53-man roster, even if it’s just for a day.
Safety Maurice Smith
Smith made the Dolphins’ 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia last year, and had worked his way into the starting lineup late last season. But the week he was elevated up the depth chart his appendix ruptured and he was placed on injured reserve. He’s been one of Miami’s top performers this preseason, contributing 15 tackles, half a sack and one interception. He’s beaten out Jordan Lucas, Trae Elston and Walt Aikens to establish himself as Miami’s fourth-best safety, but will need to earn his spot on the 53-man roster through solid special teams play.
Receiver Leonte Carroo Carroo is no higher than seventh on the receiver depth chart, and that’s only because of his status as a former third-round pick. But if we’re being honest, Rashawn Scott and Francis Owusu have made more plays
than him during training camp and the preseason. Carroo, who is battling a groin strain, needs a productive preseason game to possibly get other teams interested because his future likely isn’t in Miami.
Offensive tackle Eric Smith Smith’s strong preseason showing last year earned him a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster, but Zach Sterup has leapfrogged him as the backup left tackle, and he’s been so-so in the past three games. Smith needs to prove he deserves a continued investment by owning whatever spot he plays against the Falcons. It would also be beneficial if Smith showed Miami’s coaches he could move inside and handle playing guard if that was needed.
Tailback Senorise Perry Perry’s a fast, scrappy, tailback who consistently makes the most of his opportunities on offense and special teams. He’s gained 61 rushing yards and scored a touchdown on 13 carries and has caught six passes for 42 yards during the preseason. His future depends on whether or not Miami decides to keep three or four tailbacks on the 53-man roster because Kenyan Drake, Frank Gore and rookie Kalen Ballage are ahead of him. Receiver Isaiah Ford
Ford had some impressive moments in training camp and during Miami’s exhibition game against the Buccaneers, where he scored a fourth-quarter touchdown and a 2-point conversion. The biggest concern about Ford is his durability, but the Dolphins would like to keep him around so he could spend a year learning how to play slot from Danny Amendola. Miami could develop the 2017 seventh-round pick on the practice squad, but he’d need to clear waivers first. Quarterback David Fales Fales’ efficient practices allowed him to outshine Brock Osweiler in their daily battle to determine who becomes starter Ryan Tannehill’s backup. But Fales and Osweiler’s performance in the past two preseason games has been lackluster, which leaves the door open for Osweiler, who has $540,000 of his contract guaranteed, to edge out Fales unless he plays like he did in last year’s preseason finale when he led the Dolphins to a 30-9 win over the Vikings by throwing for 193 yards and three touchdowns.